The Barbican Centre Board's meeting on Tuesday 21 July 2026 was scheduled to cover a range of operational and strategic matters. Key discussions were anticipated regarding the CEO's report, which would provide an overview of recent programming, audience engagement, and commercial activities. Additionally, the board was set to receive updates from its sub-committees, the Finance and Risk Committee and the People, Culture & Inclusion Committee, and consider a report on the Barbican Renewal project.

CEO Report

The public CEO report, presented by Abigail Pogson, Chief Executive of the Barbican Centre, was scheduled to offer an overview of the Centre's activities between April and July 2026. This report was expected to highlight key programming achievements, audience response, press coverage, partnerships, and commercial activities. A particular focus was anticipated on the Barbican Centre's engagement with young people, including recent involvement with over 100 young leaders during London Climate Action Week and plans to enhance access through Young Barbican membership and events.

The report detailed various programming highlights across different departments:

• Visual Arts: The exhibition Project a Black Planet: The Art and Culture of Panafrica was scheduled to open, featuring artists such as Chris Ofili, Marlene Dumas, and Claudette Johnson. Delcy Morelos's origo was also noted as a commissioned work for the Sculpture Court. The report mentioned the touring of exhibitions such as Beatriz González to Oslo and Lucy Raven: Rounds to Boston.
• Creative Collaboration: The public programme for Project a Black Planet was set to include the Sankofa Carnival project, marking the 60th anniversary of Notting Hill Carnival. The Barbican Young Poets and Young Film Programmers were scheduled to present their showcases. A concert celebrating ten years of the Barbican's partnership with the National Open Youth Orchestra was also planned. Preparations for the family festival, Play Make Do, were underway.
• Barbican Immersive: The exhibition In Other Worlds by Liam Young was scheduled to open, exploring potential futures for the planet. Plans for a UK tour of this exhibition, supported by the BFI Audience Projects Fund, were in development. The Game On exhibition was also noted as part of its international tour.
• Music: The Darkness Visible performance, exploring historic City of London spaces at night, was highlighted. The music programme linked to Project a Black Planet was set to include an immersive installation and performances by various artists. Aldous Harding was scheduled to perform sold-out concerts featuring music from her new album Train on the Island.
• Theatre and Dance: The summer season was to feature musicals such as High Society and the new musical Death Note. The autumn/winter 2026 season was announced, including productions like Pam Tanowitz's Pastoral, a Japanese adaptation of Haruki Murakami's Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World, and the RSC's Hamlet Hail to the Thief. The Open Lab artist development programme was also set to return.
• Cinema: The season Our Queer 60s: LGBTQ+ Cinema in the Decade before Stonewall was scheduled to run, featuring landmark and rarely seen films. The Animation in Love series was to welcome director Jonas Poher Rasmussen for a screening of his film Flee. The film programme for Project a Black Planet was also planned.

The report also covered Commercial Highlights, including the performance of catering, bars, and the shop, with a focus on improving financial performance and customer experience. The Urban Baristas partnership in the Cinema Café and the formal launch of the Sunday Lunch trial in Barbican Kitchen were mentioned. The Barbican was noted to have hosted major red carpets and screenings for SXSW London. The Business Events team was developing plans that considered the Conservatory renovation and upcoming pre-works.

Regarding the Conservatory, plans were in place to relocate the fish to a new home.

The report concluded that the period showed strong public delivery across the Barbican, with high-profile exhibitions, ambitious programmes, positive critical response, continued audience development, and resilient commercial performance.

Sub-Committees Updates

The Board was scheduled to receive the public minutes and non-public summaries from two sub-committees:

• Finance and Risk Committee: The public minutes and non-public summary of the meeting held on 15 June 2026 were to be received. The minutes of this committee's meeting indicated discussions on an internal audit update, health and safety progress, the Barbican Business Review for March 2026, and risk updates, including the Programming and Events Risk Register.
• People, Culture & Inclusion Committee: The public minutes and non-public summary of the meeting held on 8 June 2026 were to be received. The minutes of this committee's meeting showed discussions on the delivery of the Barbican's People, Culture and Inclusion (PCI) Strategy and an update on board recruitment.

Barbican Renewal

A report from the Chief Operating Officer concerning Barbican Renewal was scheduled for decision. This project is a significant undertaking aimed at modernising and improving the Barbican Centre.

Previous Board Minutes

The Board was also scheduled to approve the public minutes and non-public summary of the previous Barbican Centre Board meeting held on 29 April 2026. The minutes from this meeting indicated discussions on the Board's terms of reference, the election of the Chair and Deputy Chairs, appointments to sub-committees, the reappointment of Zulum Elumogo, and an extension of the Chairman's term. The CEO's report at that meeting highlighted the Centre's strong position, progress on the Renewal Programme, and development of a 10-year vision. Discussions also covered the Barbican Exhibition Halls, a drawdown request for Barbican Renewal, the programming and events risk register, urgent actions taken, Barbican staffing, and facilities management.

The agenda also included items for decision regarding the exclusion of the public for non-public reports, and the approval of non-public and confidential board minutes from previous meetings.